Ever heard the saying, “Old habits die hard?” Sure you have.
Ever heard this story? A teenage daughter watched her Mother prepare a roast for the oven. She seasoned it well, cut the ends off of both sides, lowered it into a roasting pan, then placed it in the oven. “Mom, why do you cut the ends off of the roast?” the puzzled teen asked. “I don’t know honey. My Mother does the same thing. Let’s ask her why.” They called the teen’s grandmother… “Mother, why do you cut the ends off of the roast before putting it into the oven,” the teen’s Mom asked. “I don’t know, my Mother always did it. Why don’t you call her and ask why,” said the teen’s grandmother. So the teen and her Mom called up the teen’s great-grandmother. “Great Grandma, why do you cut the ends off of the roast before you put it in the oven?” the teen inquired. “Oh honey, that’s simple! I always cut the ends off of my roasts because my pan was too small!” The point? We adopt habits and sometimes don’t even know why!
Our old adopted habits can be really tough to break, especially if we practice them all the time. Getting rid of old habits and adopting new ones means changing the way we think, act, and feel around certain situations. If you’ve made a decision want to be a size 8 instead of a size 14, for example, or if your desire is to become a fitness model or powerlifter, then you need to break free from your old “not so good for you” habits and adopt new healthy ones.
Here are 5 New Bod Habits That Can Change Your Body and Your Life:
New Bod Habit #1 – Write Everything Down
Have you ever experienced “food amnesia”? It’s when someone asks what you had to eat during the day and you really cannot remember. Yet upon further contemplation, you have a vague recollection of shoving two glazed donuts into your mouth while watching television or sitting at your desk at work. Even something as “small” as popping mints all day long can blow the best of diet plans. So buy a journal or print out one. At the top of the page write the following titles: “food,” “amount,” “time,” “place” and “feelings.” Keep it with you at all times and write down everything you eat, drink, or chew. Don’t wait until the end of the day because it’s easy to revert back into your “food amnesia” state! This is a reality check at it’s best.
New Bod Habit #2 – Meditate Your Way to Your Goal
You’ve heard it before — so why aren’t you doing it? All it takes is just a few minutes out of your day. You really don’t have to be an “Omm” master to meditate. And it doesn’t have to be all calm and butterflies either. First, identify your goal and see yourself at your ideal weight, smiling, healthy, and fit. Ingrain this image into your mind. Select a piece of music you enjoy that makes you feel calm or exhilarated. Then choose a time of day where you can be alone and undisturbed for 10 minutes. It can be when you wake up before everyone else, on a break in your office, in a parked car, or sitting outside under a tree or by a fountain. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and visit the new you in your mind. See yourself as happy and healthy. Locking into your vision of the future “you.” Then open your eyes and move on with your day!
New Bod Habit #3 – Sleep to Be Thin
Getting enough sleep can help you control your weight too. If you are a night owl but continue to struggle with your weight, try going to bed earlier and making sure you are sleeping at least seven hours or more each night. Research shows those who get seven or more hours of “shut-eye” are typically leaner than their more sleep-deprived counterparts. Try not to eat anything less than three hours before going to sleep. Avoid caffeine, the computer, and television the hour before you go to sleep. Cozy up with a good book, your sweetheart, or cuddly puppy and relax!
New Bod Habit #4 – Work Out with Weights 3 Days a Week
Here’s the deal. The more muscle you have, the faster your metabolism will be. Working out with weights will increase muscle size and boost the rate you burn calories. You’ll also be stronger, be able to stand taller, feel more confident, even have more stamina for your every day and night time wink! activities! One thing to keep in mind: It is especially important to do weight resistance exercises as you move into your 40′s. Due to a drop in anabolic hormones, you’ll begin to lose muscle mass. When muscle is lost, your metabolism slows down. Get the picture? Try working out with weights three times per week, hitting all major muscle groups.
New Bod Habit #5 – Take Your Supplements
If you are still of the mindset that you can lose weight and have the bod you’ve always wanted without taking any supplements, then more power to you. However, getting by with a little help from your supplement “friends” makes sense in this day and age. For example, taking fish oil or flax oil supplements may help your body metabolize stored body fat more readily, help decrease inflammation and stabilize your mood. Adding a scoop of whey protein powder to your morning oatmeal or smoothie can help help you to feel more satisfied and less likely to binge due to its interesting appetite-controlling qualities. Taking a multivitamin that contains at least 1,000 I.U.s of Vitamin D could possibly help you to lose weight. People who are leaner have been found to have higher levels of the “sunshine vitamin” in their bodies
